List of equipment of the Soviet Ground Forces

This list shows equipment of Soviet Ground Forces in 1991.

Equipment of the Soviet Ground Forces
Emblem of the Soviet Army
Founded23 February 1946
Disbanded26 December 1991

Infantry equipment[edit]

Helmets[edit]

Name Type Photo Notes
SSh-40 Helmet Still used during the Soviet-Afghan war.[1]
SSh-60 Helmet Still used during the Soviet-Afghan war.[1]
SSh-68[2] Helmet Main service helmet.

Body armor[edit]

Name Type Photo Notes
6B2 (Zh-RI) Flak jacket Issued in 1980, it provided inadequate protection in Afghanistan and subsequently phased out.[3]: 41 
6B3 Flak jacket Replaced the Zh-RI in 1983, it provided better protection, but it was heavier and uncomfortable to wear in the mountains of Afghanistan or in hot days.[3]: 41−42 
YaB4 Flak jacket Replaced the Zh-RI in 1984, it provided better protection, but it was heavier and uncomfortable to wear in the mountains of Afghanistan or in hot days.[3]: 41−42 
6B4 (Zh-85) Ballistic vest Issued between 1985 and 1986, the Zh-85t and Zh-85k provided chest protection against bullets in the front and spinal protection against fragments in the back.[3]: 42 
6B5 "Ulej" (Zh-86) Ballistic vest Issued in 1988, it replaced the Zh-85t and Zh-85k vests. The Zh-86 covers a larger body area, and its construction uses titanium alloy, ceramics, and special steel.[3]: 42 

Small arms[edit]

Pistols and revolvers[edit]

Name Type Caliber Photo Notes
Makarov PM Semi-automatic pistol 9×18mm Makarov Main service pistol[4]: 57 
PB Besshumnyy Integrallly suppressed semi-automatic pistol Silenced pistol issued to special forces[5]
Stechkin APS Machine pistol [4]: 774 
PSM Semi-automatic pistol 5.45×18mm Standard sidearm of civil and military security forces[4]: 56 
PSS silent pistol Semi-automatic pistol 7.62×41mm SP-4 Used by Spetsnaz.[6]: 57 
Tokarev TT-33[4]: 774  Semi-automatic pistol 7.62×25mm Tokarev Limited use.[6]: 47 
Nagant M1895 Revolver 7.62×38mmR Limited use.[6]: 47 

Semi-automatic and bolt-action rifles[edit]

Name Type Caliber Photo Notes
Simonov SKS Semi-automatic rifle 7.62×39mm Ceremonial use[4]: 194 

Assault rifles and other automatic rifles[edit]

Name Type Caliber Photo Notes
AK-74 Assault rifle 5.45×39mm Main service rifle[4]: 201 
AKS-74 Assault rifle AK-74 variant with a folding stock[4]: 200 
AKS-74U Assault Carbine AKS-74 variant with a shortened barrel[4]: 108 
AKM Assault rifle 7.62×39mm In service since 1959[4]: 198 
AKMS[4]: 198  Assault rifle AKM variant with a folding stock[4]: 196 

Designated marksman and sniper rifles[edit]

Name Type Caliber Photo Notes
SVD Designated marksman rifle 7.62×54mmR Main service designated marksman rifle[4]: 199 
VSS Vintorez Designated marksman rifle 9×39mm Suppressed sniper rifle used by special forces like Spetsnaz[7]

Light and heavy machine guns[edit]

Name Type Caliber Photo Notes
RPK-74 Light machine gun 5.45×39mm Main service light machine gun[4]: 774 
RPK Light machine gun 7.62×39mm [4]: 318 
PKM General-purpose machine gun 7.62×54mmR Main service general-purpose machine gun[4]: 319 
NSV "Utyos" Heavy machine gun 12.7×108mm Main service heavy machine gun[4]: 323 
DShKM Heavy machine gun Being replaced by the NSV machine gun.[4]: 323 
KPV-14.5 Heavy machine gun 14.5×114mm Base for anti-aircraft guns[4]: 323–324 

Flares and Smokes[edit]

Name Type Caliber Photo Notes
SPSh-44 Flare gun 26 mm
RSP-30 Warning Flare
RDG-2 Smoke grenade [4]: 571 

Launchers[edit]

Name Type Caliber Photo Notes
GP-25 Kostyor Grenade launcher 40 mm caseless grenade [1][8]: 52 
AGS-17 Plamya Automatic grenade launcher 30x29 mm [4]: 247–248 

Rocket-propelled grenade launchers[edit]

Name Type Caliber Photo Notes
RPG-29 Vampir Reusable high-explosive anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade 105mm [9]
RPG-27 Tavolga Disposable high-explosive anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade 105mm [10]
RPG-26 Aglen Disposable high-explosive anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade 72.5mm [11]: 34 
RPG-22 Netto Disposable high-explosive anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade 72.5mm Seen in use during the Soviet-Afghan war.[4]: 404 
RPG-18 Mukha Disposable high-explosive anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade 64mm [4]: 403–404 
RPG-16 Rocket-propelled grenade 58.3mm Used by paratroopers and Spetsnaz.[11]: 33–35 
RPG-7 Rocket-propelled grenade 40mm Reusable launcher with various types of anti-personnel and anti-tank munitions.[4]: 401–402 

Recoilless Rifles[edit]

Name Type Caliber Photo Notes
SPG-9 Kopyo Recoilless rifle 73 mm [4]: 405 
B-10 Recoilless rifle 82 mm Limited use by paratroopers.[4]: 405 

Man-portable air-defense systems[edit]

Name Type Caliber Photo Notes
9K32 Strela-2 Infrared homing 72 mm NATO reporting name: SA-7 Grail. Being replaced by the Strela-3 and Igla systems[12]
9K34 Strela-3 Infrared homing NATO reporting name: SA-14 Gremlin[12]
9K310 Igla-1 Infrared homing NATO Reporting name: SA-16[12]
9K38 Igla Infrared homing NATO reporting name: SA-18. Replacing the Strela-2 and Strela-3 systems.[13]

Anti-tank guided missiles[edit]

Name Type Caliber Photo Notes
9M17 Fleyta MCLOS 148 mm NATO reporting name: AT-2 Swatter[4]: 407 
9M14 Malyutka MCLOS 125 mm NATO reporting name: AT-3 Sagger[4]: 407–408 
9K111 Fagot SACLOS 120 mm NATO reporting name: AT-4 Spigot[4]: 408 
9M113 Konkurs SACLOS 135 mm NATO reporting name: AT-5 Spandrel[12]
9K114 Shturm SACLOS NATO reporting name: AT-6 Spiral[12]
9K115 Metis SACLOS 94 mm NATO reporting name: AT-7 Saxhorn [12]
9K112 Kobra SACLOS 125 mm NATO reporting name: AT-8 Songster.[14]: II-22–II-23 
9M117 Bastion Laser beam-riding 100 mm NATO reporting name: AT-10 Stabber.[14]: II-24–II-25 
9M119 Svir/Refleks Laser beam-riding 120 mm NATO reporting name: AT-11 Sniper.[14]: II-26 

Land mines[edit]

Name Type Caliber Photo Notes
MON-50 Anti-personnel 700 g RDX Widely used in the Soviet-Afghan war.[3]: 252 
MON-90 Anti-personnel 6.2 kg RDX
MON-100[15] Anti-personnel 2 kg TNT [16]: 83 
MON-200[15] Anti-personnel 12 kg TNT [16]: 83 
OZM-72[15] Anti-personnel 660 g TNT Widely used in the Soviet-Afghan war.[3]: 252 
PFM-1 Anti-personnel 37 g [15]
PMD-6 mine Anti-personnel 200 g PMD-7, and PMD-7ts variants also used.[15]
POMZ-2M[15] Anti-personnel 75 g TNT [16]: 69–70 
PMN mine[15] Anti-personnel 240 g TNT Widely used in the Soviet-Afghan war.[3]: 252 

Anti-tank mines[edit]

Name Type Caliber Photo Notes
TMD-44 Anti-tank mine 9.7 kg Amatol [16]: 37–38 
TM-46[15] Anti-tank mine 5.7 kg TNT [16]: 15–16 
TM-57[15] Anti-tank mine 6.34 kg TNT [16]: 15–16 
TM-62 Anti-tank mine 7.5 kg TNT [15]
TM-72 Anti-tank mine 2.5 kg HEAT
PDM-1 Amphibious anti-tank 10 kg TNT [16]: 91–92 
TM-83 Off-route mine 6.6 kg TNT

Flamethrower[edit]

Name Type Caliber Photo Notes
LPO-50 Flamethrower 986 mm [4]: 249–250 
RPO Rys Flamethrower 122 mm [1]
RPO-A Shmel Flamethrower 93 mm [1]

Mortars[edit]

Name Type Caliber Photo Notes
82-BM-37 Light 82mm M-37M[4]: 474 
2B14 Podnos Light Used by paratroopers.[8]: 50 
120-PM-38 Heavy 120 mm [13]
120-PM-43 Heavy [4]: 476 
2B11 Heavy [14]: V-33 
2S12 Sani Heavy 1,387 units in 1991[13]
M-160 Heavy 160mm [4]: 477 
M-240 Heavy 240 mm [13]

Hand grenades[edit]

Name Type Photo Caliber Notes
F1 Anti-personnel 55 mm [4]: 567 
RGD-5 Anti-personnel 58 mm [4]: 567 
RGN Anti-personnel 60 mm Offensive type hand grenade.[4]: 568 
RGO Anti-personnel Defensive type hand grenade.[4]: 568 
RKG-3 Anti-tank grenade 362 mm [4]: 570 
RPG-6 Anti-tank grenade 103 mm Still used for training purposes.[4]: 569 
RPG-43 Anti-tank grenade 95 mm Still used for training purposes.[4]: 569 
VOG-25 Launcher grenade 40 mm Used on the GP-25.[17]

Vehicles[edit]

Tanks[edit]

The International Institute for Strategic Studies estimated that the Soviet Union had around 16,000 tanks of unknown types in storage east of the Urals in 1991.[13]

Name Type Quantity Photo Notes
T-80 Main battle tank 5,400[13] T-80U/T-80BV
T-72 Main battle tank 9,000[13] T-72B
T-64 Main battle tank 4,900[13] T-64BV
T-62 Main battle tank 8,500[13] T-62MV-1
T-55 Main battle tank 10,600[13] T-55AMV-1
T-10 Heavy tank ~350[12] T-10M
PT-76 Light tank 1,000[13] PT-76B

Infantry fighting vehicles[edit]

The Soviet Union had about 28,000 Infantry fighting vehicles in 1991[13]

Name Type Quantity Photo Notes
BMP-1[13] Infantry fighting vehicle N/A Between 1972 and 1988 Czechoslovakia delivered 5,100 BVP-1s to the Soviet Union[18]
BMP-2 Infantry fighting vehicle N/A [13]
BMP-3 Infantry fighting vehicle ~700[13]
BMD-1 Infantry fighting vehicle ~3,000[13] Used by airborne troops.
BMD-2 Infantry fighting vehicle Used by airborne troops.
BMD-3 Infantry fighting vehicle Only used by airborne troops.

Self-propelled guns[edit]

Name Type Quantity Photo Notes
ASU-57[12] Assault gun Only used by airborne troops.
ASU-85[12] Assault gun Only used by airborne troops.
2S1 Gvozdika Self-propelled artillery 2,331[13]
2S3 Akatsiya Self-propelled artillery 2,044[13]
2S4 Tyulpan Self-propelled mortar 54[13]
2S5 Giatsint-S Self-propelled artillery 494[13]
2S7 Pion Self-propelled artillery 304[13]
2S9 Nona Self-propelled artillery 442[13] Only used by airborne troops.
2S19 Msta Self-propelled howitzer 13[13]
152 mm SpGH DANA[13] Self-propelled artillery 150 delivered by Czechoslovakia between 1986 and 1990.[18]

Towed mortars and anti-tank guns[edit]

Name Type Quantity Photo Caliber Notes
2B9 Vasilek Gun howitzer 82 mm Used by motor rifle and airborne units.[4]: 475 
D-44 Anti-tank gun 85 mm [4]: 404 
BS-3 Anti-tank gun 100 mm [13]
T-12 Anti-tank gun [12]
2B16 Nona-K Gun howitzer 37[13] 120 mm
2A45 Sprut-A Anti-tank gun 125 mm [19]

Towed Artillery[edit]

Name Type Quantity Photo Caliber Notes
2A18 D-30 Field Gun 2,044[13] 122 mm
D-74 Field Gun [12]
KS-30 Field Gun 12[13] 130 mm
D-20 Field Gun 767[13] 152 mm
2A36 Giatsint-B Field Gun 574[13]
2A65 Msta-B Field Gun 400[13]
S-23 Field Gun ~180[12] 180 mm

Anti-aircraft tanks and missile systems[edit]

Name Type Quantity Photo Notes
ZSU-57-2 Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun 750[20]: 84–85  In reserve.[20]: 84–85 
ZSU-23-4 Shilka Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun N/A [12]
2K11 Krug Transportable SAM system 1,350[13] NATO reporting name: SA-4 Ganef. Being replaced by the Buk and S-300 systems[12]
2K12 Kub Transportable SAM system 850[13] NATO reporting name: SA-6 Gainful[12]
2K22 Tunguska Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun 130[13] NATO reporting name: SA-19 Grison[13]
9K31 Strela-1 Transportable SAM system 430[13] NATO reporting name: SA-9 Gaskin. Being replaced by the Strela-10 system[12]
9K33 Osa Transportable SAM system 950[13] NATO reporting name: SA-8 Gecko[12]
9K35 Strela-10 Transportable SAM system 860[13] NATO reporting name: SA-13 Gopher[12]
9K37 Buk Transportable SAM system 300[13] NATO reporting name: SA-11 Gadfly[12]
9K330 Tor Transportable SAM system 20[13] NATO reporting name: SA-15 Gauntlet. Replacing the Kub and Osa systems[13]
S-300 Transportable SAM system 70+[13] NATO Reporting name: SA-12A Gladiator[12]

Anti-aircraft guns[edit]

Name Type Quantity Photo Caliber Notes
AZP S-60 Autocannon 57 mm [12]
ZU-23-2 Autocannon 23x152 mmB [12]
ZPU-2 Anti-aircraft gun 14.5x114 mm In reserve.[20]: 210–212 
KS-30[12] Anti-aircraft gun 130x845 mmR In reserve.[20]: 202 
KS-19 Anti-aircraft gun 100x695 mm [12]

Rocket artillery[edit]

Name Type Quantity Photo Notes
BM-14 Multiple rocket launcher [12]
BM-21 Grad Multiple rocket launcher 1,550[13]
BM-24 Multiple rocket launcher [12]
BM-27 Uragan Multiple rocket launcher 554[13]
9K58 BM-30 Smerch Multiple rocket launcher 158[13]
TOS-1 Multiple rocket launcher First used in 1987 during the Soviet-Afghan war.[21]

Tactical ballistic missiles[edit]

Name Type Quantity Photo Notes
9K52 Luna-M Tactical ballistic missile 500[13]
9K79 OTR-21 Tochka Tactical ballistic missile 300[13]
RT-17 Scud Tactical ballistic missile 550[13] Scud-B and Scud-C variants

Armored personnel carriers[edit]

By 1991 the Soviet army had over 50,000 armored personnel carriers in service.[13]

Name Type Quantity Photo Notes
BTR-80 Armoured personnel carrier N/A [12]
BTR-70 Armoured personnel carrier N/A [12]
BTR-60 Armoured personnel carrier N/A BTR-60P[12]
BTR-50 Armoured personnel carrier N/A BTR-50P[12]
BTR-152[13] Armoured personnel carrier N/A Some vehicles were kept by 1980s as ambulances, command, radio, and engineering vehicles.[14]: III-5 
BTR-D Armoured personnel carrier N/A Used by airborne units.[14]: IV-10−IV-11 
MT-LB Tracked Armoured personnel carrier 4,500[13]
PTS-2 Amphibious armoured personnel carrier
PTS-M Amphibious armoured personnel carrier

Reconnaissance vehicles[edit]

Soviet army had about 8,000 reconnaissance vehicles in service in 1991.[13]

Name Type Quantity Photo Notes
BRDM-2 Amphibious armoured scout car 3,500[13]
BRM-1K Reconnaissance tank [14]: III-40 
IRM Zhuk Engineer reconnaissance tank framele ss [14]: III-42 

Engineering vehicles[edit]

Name Type Quantity Photo Notes
BAT-2 Military engineering vehicle N/A [3]: 248 
BTM-3 Trencher N/A [3]: 250 
IMR-2 Military engineering vehicle N/A [3]: 248 
MDK-3 Trencher N/A [3]: 250 
MTU-20 Bridgelayer N/A [3]: 248 
TMK-2 Trencher N/A [3]: 250 
TMM Bridgelayer N/A [3]: 248 
PMP Floating Bridge Pontoon bridge N/A [3]: 247 

Unarmored trucks and utility vehicles[edit]

Name Type Quantity Photo Notes
UAZ-469 Light utility vehicle N/A [22]
Lada Niva Legende Light utility vehicle N/A
GAZ-69 Light utility vehicle N/A
UAZ-452 Light truck N/A Used mostly as ambulances or special operation vehicles.[23]: 115 
GAZ-53 Medium truck N/A Used by engineering units in Afghanistan.[3]: 248 
GAZ-66 Medium truck N/A The GAZ-66B variant was used by Airborne troops.[23]: 35–36 
ZIL-131 Medium truck N/A Some had ZU-23 anti-aircraft guns mounted in Afghanistan.[22]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Galeotti, Mark (6 December 2012). Afghanistan: The Soviet Union's Last War. Routledge. pp. 192–193. ISBN 978-1-136-29943-8.
  2. ^ Greentree, David (16 February 2023). Soviet Naval Infantry 1917–91. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-5163-5. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Russian General Staff (2002). Grau, Lester W.; Gress, Michael A. (eds.). The Soviet-Afghan War: How a Superpower Fought and Lost. University Press of Kansas. ISBN 978-0-7006-1185-0.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao V. Hogg, Ian, ed. (1988). Jane's infantry weapons 1988-89 (14th ed.). London: Jane's Pub. Co. ISBN 978-0710608574.
  5. ^ Popenker, Maxim (13 December 2008). "GUNS OF THE SPETSNAZ: 9MM PB SILENCED PISTOL - Small Arms Review". Small Arms Review. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Thompson, Leroy (27 October 2022). Soviet Pistols: Tokarev, Makarov, Stechkin and others. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-5349-3. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  7. ^ "The VSS Vintorez: Whisper Of Spetsnaz". SOFREP. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  8. ^ a b Campbell, David (20 February 2020). Soviet Airborne Forces 1930–91. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-3959-6. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  9. ^ Rottman, Gordon L. (20 October 2013). The Big Book of Gun Trivia: Everything you want to know, don't want to know, and don't know you need to know. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78200-950-4. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  10. ^ "Ukrainian positions in Donbas shelled by deadly Russian RPG-27 Tavolga". www.unian.info. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  11. ^ a b Rottman, Gordon L. (15 March 2011). The Rocket Propelled Grenade. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84908-154-2.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad Institute for Strategic Studies (1989). The military balance, 1989-1990. London: Brassey's. p. 34. ISBN 978-0080375694.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba International Institute for Strategic Studies (1991). The military balance. 1991-1992. London: Brassey's. p. 37. ISBN 978-0080413259.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h Soviet/Russian Armor and Artillery Design Practices: 1945-1995. Marine Corps Intelligence Activity. 1995. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Soviet Engineers: Organization, Doctrine, and Equipment. Field Engineering Branch, Department of Military Engineering, U.S. Army Engineer School. 1986. pp. 11–15. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g United States Army, Europe, Headquarters (30 July 1975). USAREUR Pam 30-60-1 1975 Identification guide, part three, weapons and equipment, East European Communist armies, volume ii, mine warfare and demolition equipment. New York. Retrieved 23 July 2023.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  17. ^ Rottman, Gordon L. (1 April 2011). The AK-47: Kalashnikov-series assault rifles. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 28. ISBN 978-1-84908-462-8. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  18. ^ a b "Trade Registers". armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  19. ^ Trevithick, Joseph (9 June 2020). "Watch Russian Troops Snuff Out An Oil Well Blaze With An Anti-Tank Gun". The Drive. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  20. ^ a b c d Cullen, Tony; Foss, Christopher F., eds. (1 March 1992). Jane's Land-based Air Defence 1992-93. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710609793.
  21. ^ Newdick, Thomas (28 February 2022). "The Truth About Russia's Terrifying TOS-1A Thermobaric Rocket Launchers Now In Ukraine". The Drive. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  22. ^ a b Galeotti, Mark (28 May 2020). Combat Vehicles of Russia's Special Forces: Spetsnaz, airborne, Arctic and interior troops. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-4184-1. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  23. ^ a b United States Army, Europe and Seventh Army, Headquarters (15 February 1974). Identification guide, part two, weapons and equipment, East European Communist armies, volume ii, Soviet trucks and trailers. New York. Retrieved 20 July 2023.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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